Hello, Goodbye

I am back in the Blue Parrot.  Apparently there was talk of banners and balloons and the like upon my return.  In the end they didn't bother.

The flight back was unbelievably long, involving four different stopovers, three sets of passport control and a mad dash from one side of Guangzhou airport to the other, making my connection with approximately two and a half minutes to spare. It was interesting flying into Beijing. I've always understood that the country has a problem with pollution, but not that the air above the major cities is like striated milk, with a distinct purple-grey band of smog hovering above the skyline.

Second night me and Bob went out in Surrey Hills with Erin and her mates.  Unfortunately due to reasons of poverty and jet lag I skipped out early, leaving Bob to hustle free drinks out of gay guys (apparently).

The lack of money is, of course, something of a situation.  Now getting some kind of harvest work is a priority.  We were originally looking for work in Victoria or New South Wales, which has the advantage of being close by and a temperate climate.  However summer was a bit late kicking off this year, as such there is no work in these areas for a couple of weeks yet.  All well and good, but kinda need money now.  As a result our search drew us inexorably north to Queensland which appears to be the only place with anything in season.  What it does not have, however, is accommodation which is suffice to say, a shitter, as the majority of work going is arranged through the hostels themselves.  The only course of action that suggests itself is to hostel in Cairns and search for both work and lodgings while there.  I am already sick to my stomach of ringing people and getting a negative reply each time, so I may well be mad by next week.  We've also acquired a giant German as Korbi will be travelling with us up with us. Cool beans.

So it's goodbye to Sydney with its lovely beaches, gorgeous parks and slightly bland skyscrapers and it's hello Cairns which features rain and bananananananananas.  I've enjoyed my time at the parrot.  As far as hostels go it's in many respects fairly bog standard but the people and the atmosphere is great (particular shout out to Jim on the front desk).  Don't know when I'll  be able to write here again, depending on whether there's free tinternet where we end up.

Love and fishes

Dave